ANC cannot be trusted with unilateral pandemic agreement

1 March 2024

The FF Plus has serious misgivings about South Africa signing the international treaty on pandemic prevention and preparedness by member countries of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The ANC government had kept it so tightly under wraps that Members of Parliament only learnt of it after the public brought it to the FF Plus's attention with a letter in May 2022.

The FF Plus looked into the matter and it came to light that the ANC government had negotiated with the WHO and had possibly already signed the treaty.

This means that in the future, the WHO may be able to dictate how South Africa manages a pandemic on home soil.

Everyone knows what an extremely detrimental impact the Covid-19 lockdown, which the ANC imposed on all South Africans through senseless restrictions and regulations, had on the country's economy and the welfare of millions of people.

Before any treaties relating to pandemics are concluded with other countries and international organisations, especially with the WHO, the South African public should be duly informed and should be given the opportunity to make submissions. It should not happen in secret.

South Africa's Constitution clearly stipulates that any international treaty is only binding once the National Assembly (NA) and National Council of Provinces (NCOP) have adopted it. 

The poor decisions and mistakes made in managing the Covid-19 pandemic may not be repeated.

It is of the utmost importance that the South African public are given the opportunity to comment on the planned treaty, which the government will sign on their behalf, and it is equally important to disclose all the details of the treaty.

South Africans already know that the ANC cannot be trusted with anything, and especially not with a matter that directly affects every South African.

Issued by Philip van Staden, FF Plus MP and chief spokesperson: Health, 1 March 2024